The FIFA World Cup 2026 has commenced, marking a significant expansion in the tournament's history with 48 nations competing for the first time. These teams are organised into 12 groups, a departure from previous formats, promising an extended spectacle for football fans globally. The co-hosting nations – Mexico, USA, and Canada – are automatically top seeds in Groups A, B, and D respectively.
For British fans, England finds itself in Group L alongside formidable opponents Croatia, Ghana, and Panama. Scotland, meanwhile, has been drawn into Group C, where they will face Brazil, Morocco, and Haiti. This expanded format means a greater number of matches, with the tournament featuring 104 games in total, an increase of 40 compared to the 2022 World Cup in Qatar.
The pathway to the knockout stages has also been revised. The top two teams from each of the 12 groups will automatically qualify for the newly introduced Round of 32. Additionally, the eight best third-placed teams across all groups will also progress, meaning that securing just three points might be sufficient for some nations to advance to the next phase of the competition.
The tournament kicked off at Mexico City’s iconic Azteca Stadium, a venue steeped in World Cup history, famous for hosting two finals and witnessing Diego Maradona's memorable moments in 1986. Mexico and Canada are each hosting 13 matches, while the United States will stage the majority of the games, with 78 fixtures. From the quarter-finals onwards, all remaining matches will be played in the USA, culminating in the final held at New Jersey’s MetLife Stadium.
This edition of the World Cup is also anticipated to be a poignant one, with football legends Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo widely expected to make their final appearances on this grand stage, potentially concluding their illustrious international careers.